FLASHBACK: State Sen. Malcolm Smith is embroiled in a ballot scandal revealed by The Post April 2. Photo: Ellis Kaplan

WASHINGTON — Senate crafters of an immigration bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegals expressed confidence yesterday that they could get the measure passed, despite the defeat this week of another bipartisan bill, for gun control.

The “Gang of Eight” senators — four Democrats and four Republicans — officially kicked off their immigration-reform campaign yesterday with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) standing before 21 representatives of business, labor, religious and Hispanic groups.

“So, if you are wondering why we are confident we can be successful in passing immigration reform this time around, look right behind me, these folks here,” said Schumer, who was a chief promoter of the failed gun-control legislation.

Opponents of the immigration-reform legislation predicted the bill, which calls for securing the border, would meet the same fate as the gun-control bid.

“A lot of elites just declared there would be major changes to gun laws in America, and it fizzled,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a chief opponent of both bills. “I think you’re going to see a lot of that here as more people realized the breadth of this legislation and the loopholes in it.”

Supporters of the immigration bill noted that, unlike the gun-control backers, they have four Republican votes right from the start.